Member Since June 2007
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Captain America #109, page 15 - CAP's ORIGIN!!

Location: Captain America and Sgt. Fury
Artists: Jack Kirby (Penciller) , Syd Shores (Inker)

Location: Captain America and Sgt. Fury
Title: Captain America #109, page 15 - CAP's ORIGIN!!*
Artist: Jack Kirby (Penciller) , Syd Shores (Inker)
Media Type: Pen and Ink
Art Type: Interior Page
For Sale Status: NFS
Views: 3820
Likes on CAF: 14
Comments: 29
Added to Site: 10/2/2019

Jack Kirby told us the origin of Captain America three times. First in 1941, when Cap was introduced to the world. Weakling Steve Rogers was injected with the super soldier serum by Dr. Reinstein, transforming into our hero. When Cap was reintroduced to the world via the Marvel Universe in Avengers #4, Kirby needed to remind everyone of how he came to be. So, shortly after he was given his own shared space in Tales of Suspense, Kirby once again told Cap’s origin. In Tales of Suspense 63 Kirby uses one five panel page to show the scene. We see frail Steve Rogers drink the super soldier serum handed to him by Dr. Erskine. Why drink versus injection? The Comics Code Authority. It was essentially forbidden to show someone getting an injection. The actual transformation happens over three panels, the first of which is the reaction shots of those watching it all happen. Why Erskine from Reinstein? I have my theories, but I can’t find anything that definitively tells us why.

But, a few years later, with Cap now in his own book, Kirby decides to once again tell the tale. But, now, Kirby is at the peak of his powers and the Marvel Universe is no longer a fledgling title, it’s a full bore powerhouse. In Captain America 109, Kirby changes the origin one more time. This time, to fully put Cap in the same style as many of the star Marvel line up, he adds the missing ingredient. Radiation. The Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the Hulk, and the X-Men (sort of) owe their powers to radiation. It was time to add Cap to the list.

In Cap 109, skinny Steve Rogers undresses and prepares for the experiment on page 14. Interestingly, Kirby has him injected with the serum (but off screen). Then, on page 15, he is bombarded with the Vita-Rays and we watch him painfully transform over the next four panels, enduring some significant Kirby Krackle before emerging as the Super Soldier. The Vita-Rays have stood the test of time, including being part of the Marvel film universe.

These two pages were exhibited as part of The Art of the Superhero exhibit at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in 2009/2010, and the subject of a great essay by Charles Hatfield.

I first saw these pages in the Hakes auction in 2014. I planned and was still caught off guard when the price sailed over my limit. So, when they came up again in the Heritage auction earlier this year, I was ready. There was a lot of chatter on the message boards about the price paid for two small art Captain America pages with no Captain America in costume. But, I was thrilled to pick these up. They are historic, not only for what they mean for the character of Captain America, but for showing how Kirby had evolved and setting the stage for future graphic storytelling.

Besides, it’s the Vita-Rays!!!!!

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Member Since: June 2007
Last Login: July 2026
Ebay Id: lihama5
Country: UNITED STATES
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Chris K. Member Since 2008

Posted On 10/2/2019

Historic. Epically cool. In the right collection...finally! Well done.

Dino Mauricio Member Since 2009

Posted On 10/2/2019

Magnificent piece of Marvel history, congrats Ron!

Mike D Member Since 2004

Posted On 10/2/2019

These pages are incredible Ron - big congrats! I used to own Byrne's version of this exact page from Cap255 and it is amazing to see how reverent he was to what Kirby had done here.

David K Member Since 2008

Posted On 10/2/2019

It certainly doesn't get much better than that!

Jason Versaggi Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/3/2019

Bravo Ron!

alessandro gentili Member Since 2011

Posted On 10/3/2019

Historic and unforgettable. Huge congrats!

Ben Chamberlain Member Since 2016

Posted On 10/3/2019

Amazing page! Love the inking in that fourth panel, too : )

CHRIS OLIVERIA Member Since 2011

Posted On 10/3/2019

I really like the Kirby Shores team on these issues......mmmmmm, Classic goodness!

Congratulations

REDEMAGNI CLAUDIO Member Since 2016

Posted On 10/3/2019

Very beautiful page, congratulations

Alberto Giavoni Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/3/2019

this is an insane historic piece!

Timothy Finney Member Since 2006

Posted On 10/3/2019

Kirby unleashed his full artistic powers here. Congrats!

Malcolm Bourne Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/3/2019

how wonderful!! Mazaltov!!

Mark Howland Member Since 2004

Posted On 10/3/2019

Patience is a virtue. Planning, too. Great double-score!

West Stephan Member Since 2007

Posted On 10/3/2019

Best Kirby non-Cap Cap page ever!

Keith Becker Member Since 2018

Posted On 10/3/2019

Ron, these pages are just simply amazing! Big congrats again, sir!

Nils E Member Since 2014

Posted On 10/3/2019

Interesting seeing stan's notes in the margin, I wonder if he wrote them before Jack drew the page.

Tom Coker Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/3/2019

Nils E wrote:

" Interesting seeing stan's notes in the margin, I wonder if he wrote them before Jack drew the page.
"

Unlikely

Dave W Member Since 2006

Posted On 10/3/2019

Epic, historic, amazing. Congratulations!

Bill J Member Since 2009

Posted On 10/3/2019

Epic! Love this page. Kirby makes every panel surge with energy! Wow.

Canadian Collector Member Since 2015

Posted On 10/3/2019

Every single panel on this page is a masterpiece. Done by the original creator who envisioned this scene and brought it to us in the 40s. Absolutely magnificent!

Johnny M Member Since 2014
Forum Moderator

Posted On 10/3/2019

Thanks for sharing these amazing pieces, Ron!!! Iconic Kirby and Cap!

Michael One Minute Later Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/3/2019

This is great...a wonderful addition to your glorious collection. Shows why Jolly Jack was the King.

K Gearon Member Since 2011

Posted On 10/3/2019

So awesome! Vintage King in a superb retelling of Cap's origin! Krackling with Kirby power! Congrats, Ron!

Jimmy Cawley Member Since 2015

Posted On 10/3/2019

Cap origin page by the king? Wonderful

Tom Coker Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/3/2019

Yep, this is a helluva page Ron. Damn!

Stephen F Member Since 2005

Posted On 10/4/2019

Wonderful page!! And historic to boot!

Joe Murray Member Since 2006

Posted On 10/7/2019

Love that page, so memorable, but first saw it in the Marvel Super Action reprint, big congrats!!

Maicol Senzacqua Member Since 2015

Posted On 10/22/2019

WOW Fantastic!

Peter R Member Since 2006

Posted On 1/18/2026

Stunning piece.

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Captain America #109, page 15 - CAP's ORIGIN!!

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